Monday, September 27, 2004

Matherly Scholar Award

While surfing lately, I ran across a man who was listed as a "Matherly Scholar" of the University of Florida. When I contacted the school I was emailed the following info:

"Matherly Scholar Award: Awarded to students who have made a significant contribution to the MBA Program and have displayed outstanding academic achievement and leadership. Members of the MBA Programs faculty and staff will select the Matherly Scholars based on nominations and comments from students in the graduating class. Note: students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher through Spring 2004 (Module 3) to qualify for this award."

I emailed back to find out if this was named after any Matherly in particular.

Link to one of these scholars: http://www.cba.ufl.edu/fire/seminars/Moll_Susik_Page.htm

Saturday, September 25, 2004

Census Research: Part 1

I was up till almost two this morning combing through census transcripts online. I came away with a confirmation of the sinking feeling that the Matherleys have never been prolific. I feel great gratitude toward those who labor without fanfare.

Here is a link to some Matherley/Matherly census information:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/matherly/messages/313.html

It lists a John D. Matherly born around the time my ancestor would have been in the county he may have been born in.

Email from another Matherley researcher:
". . . I know someone who spells it Matherley, my father. I am trying to trace my father's family. He was Wilbert Lee Matherley. His father was Christopher Jackson Matherley. Most of the family spell the name Matherly. If you have any thing on this line I would love to hear from you. I only know of them living in the Danville, Va., area. My uncle will only say that they came from over on the mountain. I have no idea what he means. Thanks."

Matherley's Obit.
A Tribute published in the pages of Danville Register, Danville, VA., May 7, 1975

MEMORIAL OBITUARY

Entered Into Eternal Rest, Monday, May 5, 1975.

Funeral Rites For Mrs. Bragg

A funeral service for Mrs. Lou Anna Bessie Barber Matherley Bragg will be held today at 2 p.m. at Volger's Main Street Chapel in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The body will be brought to Danville this evening in preparation for rites to be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Swicegood Chapel. Burial will be in Leemont Cemetery.

Mrs. Bragg, 76 of 2244 Tryon St., Winston-Salem, N.C., died Monday in a Winston-Salem hospital.

She was born on Oct. 20, 1898 in Danville to the late Preston Green Barber and Kathleen Young Barber. Mrs. Bragg had resided in Winston-Salem, N.C., since 1928. She belonged to First Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Mrs. Bragg was first married to the late J.D. Matherley and later married the late Clarence Edgar Bragg.

Surviving Mrs. Bragg are a daughter, Mrs. Louise Smith of Winston-Salem, N.C.: three sons: Percy D. Matherley, Clarence E. Bragg, Jr., and Lonnie G. Bragg, all of Winston-Salem, N.C., a brother, Richard Barber of Danville, two sisters, Mrs. Rosa Lovelace of Pelham, N.C. and Mrs. Lizzie Cook of Martinsville; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
_____________________

Additional Obit. info from me:
All three sons of Mrs. Bragg have passed on (and I believe all are burried in N.C.). The J.D. Matherley was John David Matherley (died of pneumonia, buried in the same Leemont Cemetery of Danville, VA, as Mrs. Bessie Bragg). The Percy D. Matherley (born 8/5/1924) was Percy David Matherley, Sr. who passed away October 2003 in a hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Mrs. Bragg's name on her marriage certificate differs from the information in the Obit. I will post the marriage certificate when I find a copy of it again.

Thursday, July 22, 2004

The Quest Begins

For over 10 years I have been slowly researching two family lines, with little success. It seems that there is an over-abundance of information on the John Phibbs family out there, but none about the John David Matherley family. My intention is to make this a clearing house for links and info on these two families, mostly the Phibbs side.

Phibbs Background

The Phibbs family has many interesting historical incidents. In medicine we span the ages with a James Phipps being the first person to be inoculated against smallpox, and Dr. Brendan Phibbs a noteable WWII physican and author. I first became enamored with the study of the Phibbs family when as a child I saw an illustration of little James Phipps being inoculated. I was amazed a distant relative was in my history textbook. Later, I heard about Dr. Phibbs the author, and decided to delve into the rich history of the Phibbs line.

http://ma.essortment.com/smallpoxvaccine_rchc.htm

http://www.blueenvelope.org/history.htm

At present there are about six nurses from the Phibbs line working in the South. A few others are in various positions in hospitals. I'm not sure what draws Phibbs women (and a few men) into the medical field, but as of last year three more are contemplating returning to school to pursue a career in nursing. I think it has to do with the mothering instinct so solid in Phibbs women. The Phibbs women I have known are compassionate to a fault.

Matherley Background

Almost non-existant references make the Matherley line a mystery to me. I know of few Matherleys and no young male Matherleys to carry on the family names.